U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Friday a fake press release sent by the Illinois Republican Party marked "a new low."

But it was Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's campaign that started the shenanigans.

They issued a news release Thursday and Friday purportedly from Republican rival Bruce Rauner's campaign. It said Rauner would "emerge from hiding" to discuss whether he used clout to get his daughter into an exclusive school.

The GOP then sent an email that falsely stated Durbin would call on Quinn to testify in the investigation of his troubled anti-violence program.

Both sides defended the messages, saying they're drawing attention to important issues.